Nokia 4.2 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

Overview: The Nokia 4.2 is a budget smartphone that combines style, affordability, and a clean Android experience. With its sleek glass-and-polycarbonate design and slim bezels, this phone stands out in the crowd. The 5.7-inch display provides ample screen space, while the dual camera setup captures decent photos. Running on the reliable Android One software, the Nokia 4.2 offers a bloat-free interface and guarantees timely updates. Priced at just $189, it offers great value for money. However, it's worth noting that the phone's performance can be sluggish at times and the display quality is not exceptional. Overall, the Nokia 4.2 is a solid choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable smartphone with a touch of elegance.

Design and Build Quality

The Nokia 4.2 boasts an aesthetically pleasing design and solid build quality that gives it a premium look and feel. The phone features a sleek glass back panel and a metal frame, which adds to its overall elegance. The Pink Sand color option adds a touch of uniqueness and helps the phone stand out among its competitors. The device is compact and lightweight, making it easily portable and comfortable to hold. The construction of the Nokia 4.2 feels robust and sturdy, ensuring durability in everyday use. The buttons and controls are well-placed and have a satisfying click to them. The slim bezels around the 5.71-inch display maximize the screen real estate and contribute to the phone's modern form factor. The grip on the device is secure, allowing for comfortable one-handed usability. Overall, the Nokia 4.2 impresses with its sleek design, premium look and feel, and solid build quality, making it a visually appealing and well-constructed smartphone.

Display

The Nokia 4.2 features a 5.71-inch LCD display with slim bezels, offering a compact design and maximizing the screen real estate. The display resolution is 720 x 1520 pixels, which is adequate for everyday use and provides decent clarity. The aspect ratio is 19:9, ensuring a taller and more immersive viewing experience.

While the Nokia 4.2 does not offer OLED technology, the LCD display still delivers satisfactory color accuracy and vibrancy. The brightness levels are decent, making the screen readable even under direct sunlight, although it may not be the brightest display on the market. The touch responsiveness of the screen is smooth and accurate, allowing for seamless navigation and interaction with the device.

The display does not come with any specific display protection, such as Gorilla Glass, but it is advisable to use a screen protector for added durability. The pixel density is 295 pixels per inch (PPI), which is average for a budget smartphone and provides reasonably sharp visuals.

Although the Nokia 4.2 does not have a high refresh rate or HDR support, it still offers good viewing angles and an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. It does not come with an Always-on Display feature, which may be a drawback for some users. However, it does offer a blue light filter and adaptive brightness to enhance the viewing experience in different lighting conditions.

Overall, the display of the Nokia 4.2 is satisfactory for its price range, with decent color reproduction, touch responsiveness, and outdoor visibility. While it may not have all the advanced features found in higher-end smartphones, it provides a reliable and functional display for everyday use.

Performance

The performance of the Nokia 4.2 is a mixed bag. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 chipset, it offers decent performance for everyday tasks such as web browsing, social media, and light multitasking. However, when it comes to more demanding tasks like gaming or running resource-intensive apps, the Nokia 4.2 falls short.

In terms of CPU benchmarks, the Nokia 4.2 performs adequately but doesn't stand out compared to its competitors in the budget segment. It manages to handle basic tasks with ease, but it struggles with more intensive applications. The processor efficiency is average, and while it may not be the fastest, it still provides a smooth user experience for day-to-day use.

When it comes to gaming performance, the Nokia 4.2 is not the best choice for avid mobile gamers. The GPU benchmarks reveal that it struggles to handle graphically demanding games, resulting in lower frame rates and occasional stutters. While it can handle less demanding games with ease, the gaming experience is not as smooth as one would hope.

In terms of thermal management, the Nokia 4.2 does a decent job of keeping temperatures in check during regular usage. However, during extended gaming sessions or when running demanding apps, the device tends to heat up quickly, leading to performance throttling and a less enjoyable gaming experience.

Unfortunately, specific benchmark tests and scores for the Nokia 4.2 are not readily available, making it difficult to provide detailed performance metrics. However, based on user feedback and performance analysis, it is clear that the Nokia 4.2 is not designed for heavy usage or gaming purposes. For everyday tasks and light multitasking, it performs adequately, providing a lag-free and smooth user experience.

Overall, while the Nokia 4.2 may not excel in terms of performance, it still manages to offer a satisfactory experience for casual users who don't require intensive processing power.

Software and User Interface

The Nokia 4.2 runs on the Android One operating system, providing users with a clean and bloat-free experience. It comes with Android 9.0 Pie out of the box, and being part of the Android One program ensures that it will receive regular software updates for at least two years. This means that users can enjoy the latest features and security patches without any delay.

The Android One interface on the Nokia 4.2 is user-friendly and easy to navigate. It offers a stock Android experience, which is known for its simplicity and smoothness. The absence of any heavy customizations or bloatware ensures that the phone performs well and doesn't slow down over time.

The software on the Nokia 4.2 also includes some useful pre-installed apps. Google's suite of apps, such as Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Photos, come pre-loaded on the device, providing users with essential tools right out of the box. Additionally, the phone features a dedicated Google Assistant button, allowing users to quickly access the voice assistant with a single press.

Overall, the software experience on the Nokia 4.2 is commendable. With its clean Android One interface, regular updates, and useful pre-installed apps, the phone offers a user-friendly and hassle-free experience to its users.

Camera

The Nokia 4.2 boasts a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 13-megapixel wide lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, providing users with the flexibility to capture a variety of shots. The primary camera has an aperture of f/2.2, allowing for good light intake and enhancing the low-light performance. With its 28mm focal length, it offers a versatile field of view suitable for both indoor and outdoor photography.

In terms of image quality, the Nokia 4.2 delivers satisfactory results in daylight photography, capturing natural colors with decent sharpness. The dynamic range is adequate, preserving details in both highlights and shadows. However, the camera struggles a bit in low-light conditions, where noise reduction algorithms might affect image quality.

The camera app of Nokia 4.2 comes with various features such as portrait mode, HDR, panorama mode, pro mode for manual control, and AI scene recognition. These features enhance the versatility of the camera and allow users to experiment with different shooting styles.

For video recording, the Nokia 4.2 offers the capability to shoot 1080p videos at 30fps. While it lacks 4K video recording, the phone compensates with video stabilization, ensuring smoother footage. Additionally, users can also enjoy slow-motion and time-lapse video modes, adding creativity to their videos.

Overall, the camera of the Nokia 4.2 is suitable for everyday photography needs, delivering acceptable image quality in various lighting conditions. However, it may not be the best option for users specifically looking for exceptional low-light performance or advanced video capabilities.

Battery Life

The Nokia 4.2 comes with a 3,000 mAh battery, which provides a decent battery life for its price range. With its power efficiency and battery optimization features, the phone manages to last through a day of moderate usage without much trouble. However, heavy media consumption or gaming can drain the battery faster. The phone does not support fast charging or wireless charging options, which may be a drawback for some users. The charging speed is average, taking around 2 hours to fully charge the battery. The battery capacity is sufficient for everyday use, but it is always recommended to manage battery usage and optimize settings to maximize battery backup. With proper battery management, the Nokia 4.2 can provide satisfactory battery performance and endurance.

Connectivity and Networking

The Nokia 4.2 offers a range of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you go. It supports 4G LTE network compatibility, allowing for fast data speeds and seamless browsing. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you can easily connect to wireless networks and pair your phone with other devices. The Nokia 4.2 also has NFC capabilities, enabling convenient contactless payments and quick file transfers. It features a Micro USB port for charging and data transfer, although it would have been nice to have a USB-C port for faster charging. The phone also supports dual SIM functionality, allowing you to use two SIM cards simultaneously for added convenience. For navigation purposes, the Nokia 4.2 includes GPS, ensuring accurate location tracking and easy navigation. Additionally, it has Bluetooth version 4.2 and supports Wi-Fi standards 802.11 b/g/n, ensuring reliable and fast connectivity. Overall, the Nokia 4.2 provides a good range of connectivity options to meet your everyday needs.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Nokia 4.2 with other related gadgets in the market, it's important to consider its features, specifications, performance, and pricing in relation to its competitors.

In terms of design, the Nokia 4.2 stands out with its glass and polycarbonate build, giving it a premium appearance. However, when compared to devices like the Moto G7 Play or Moto G7 Power, which also fall in the budget price range, the Nokia 4.2 may not have as sleek of a design.

In terms of camera performance, the Nokia 4.2 offers a decent camera for its price range, but it may not match the quality of cameras found in devices like the Google Pixel 3a or the iPhone SE. These devices are known for their exceptional camera capabilities and are priced slightly higher than the Nokia 4.2.

When it comes to performance, the Nokia 4.2 falls short. Users may experience sluggishness and occasional freezes, which may not be ideal for those seeking a smooth and responsive device. On the other hand, devices like the Samsung Galaxy A51 or the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro offer better performance at a similar price point.

In terms of pricing, the Nokia 4.2 is competitively priced at $189. However, for just a slightly higher price, users can find devices like the Moto G Power or the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S, which offer better performance and more features.

Overall, while the Nokia 4.2 has its strengths, such as a clean Android One experience and a stylish design, it faces stiff competition in the budget smartphone market. With other devices offering better performance, camera capabilities, and overall value for money, the Nokia 4.2 may struggle to stand out.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Conclusion:

The Nokia 4.2 offers a sleek design, a clean Android One experience, and a decent camera for its budget price. However, it falls short in terms of performance and display quality. The sluggish performance and underwhelming display hinder the overall user experience. While the phone's design and camera are noteworthy, they are not enough to outweigh the drawbacks. Considering the competitive market, there are better-performing phones available for just a slightly higher price. If you prioritize performance and display quality, it's worth exploring other options. However, if you value the clean Android experience and stylish design, the Nokia 4.2 could still be a viable choice.